Chapter 329 The Challenge
Su Yunxi's beautiful eyes were a little surprised, then returned to normal, and she smiled charmingly, "Chen Xuan, I'm waiting for you to fulfill your oath."
Chen Xuan nodded solemnly, took Su Yunxi's fair and jade-like delicate hand, and strode into the Xuanji Hall.
At this moment, most of the guests invited by Xuanji Hall had also arrived. Chen Xuan did not show himself but let Black Tiger give a speech. Xuanji Hall officially opened on this auspicious day!
During casual chat, many people were talking to each other, full of smiles.
At this moment, Mu Haifeng, who had been silent, stepped forward and stared at Chen Xuan with a forced smile, "Mr. Chen, I have long heard of Xuanji Hall, but my Wanyang Martial Arts School is not to be trifled with. I, Wanyang Martial Arts School, wish to challenge Xuanji Hall. Do you dare to accept?"
A challenge?
Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, seeing malice in Mu Haifeng's eyes.
If Mu Haifeng successfully challenged Xuanji Hall in front of everyone on its opening day, Xuanji Hall would likely be disgraced and unable to recover.
This intention was truly malicious.
Alliance Leader Long's face sank, his tone full of authority, "Hall Master Mu, Xuanji Hall has just been established today, and you want to challenge it. What kind of conduct is this?"
"Alliance Leader Long, you are being too serious."
Mu Haifeng said calmly, "According to the rules, when a martial arts school or hall is established, it must face challenges from various forces. Who says it's not allowed to challenge on the opening day?"
"Challenging requires a challenge letter from the Martial Alliance. Do you have one?" Alliance Leader Long's voice was somewhat low.
Mu Haifeng waved his hand, and someone brought out a challenge letter.
Alliance Leader Long took it and saw that it was indeed a challenge letter, signed by a director of the Martial Alliance. Alliance Leader Long's eyes turned cold as he noted down the director's name.
Chen Xuan observed all this, realizing that Mu Haifeng had prepared thoroughly this time! It made sense; ever since Xuanji Hall began preparation, Mu Haifeng had declared that Xuanji Hall would close on the day it opened.
However, he was not afraid. There were already many rumors surrounding the establishment of Xuanji Hall, and it was a good opportunity to use Mu Haifeng as a stepping stone.
If people knew that a newly established force was planning to use Xuanji Hall, the number one martial arts school in Jiangzhou, to make an example of others, they would think Chen Xuan was crazy.
But Xuanji Hall possessed such strength!
Excluding Chen Xuan, Mo Xiaoxue, and Elder Lin were all Inner Force Grandmasters. With the supply of elixirs, Xuanji Hall's strength had greatly increased. There were three Ninth-Rank Inner Force Masters, five Eighth-Rank Inner Force Masters... Even Black Tiger had stepped into the ranks of a Seventh-Rank Inner Force Master, a considerable expert in Jiangzhou.
Mayor Huang let out a cold snort, "Alliance Leader Long, as the leader of the Martial Alliance, you won't be biased, will you?"
Having lost face earlier under the combined efforts of Alliance Leader Long and President Qi, Mayor Huang had to regain some composure.
"I act with integrity. Mayor Huang, please rest assured."
With Mayor Huang's backing, Alliance Leader Long couldn't say much more.
Mu Haifeng narrowed his eyes, turned to stare at Chen Xuan, and said sinisterly with a smile, "Mr. Chen, do you dare to accept the challenge?"
Chen Xuan's thoughts turned, and his gaze slowly swept over the people Mu Haifeng had brought.
The Inner Force Grandmaster from the capital had always been elusive, never once appearing at Wanyang Martial Arts School. Was he hiding among them now?
He glanced around, and after a moment, a smile played on his lips.
Seeing Chen Xuan remain silent, Mu Haifeng assumed Chen Xuan was afraid and chuckled, "Heh heh, Xuanji Hall has invited Alliance Leader Long, President Qi, and so many distinguished guests. Could it be that Xuanji Hall is just a decorative pillow?"
"If you don't accept the challenge, then don't. The outcome today will be spread anyway!"
Chen Xuan was momentarily taken aback, then said faintly, "Who says our Xuanji Hall dares not accept the challenge?"
Mu Haifeng was slightly stunned, his eyes showing a hint of excitement, "Good, Mr. Chen. I am very happy to spar with you."
Saying this, Mu Haifeng assumed a sparring stance.
"Who said I was going to fight you?" Chen Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, unmoving.
Mu Haifeng glanced at the people in Xuanji Hall, then turned to stare at Chen Xuan and said with a cold smile, "If you're not fighting me, does Xuanji Hall have anyone else who can match me?"
Elder Lin, who had been standing behind Chen Xuan, stepped forward, facing Chen Xuan, and said sincerely, "Mr. Chen, I am also a member of Xuanji Hall now. Please let me fight."
"Elder Lin? You are going to fight? There's no need for that."
Chen Xuan frowned.
Mu Haifeng couldn't help but chuckle.
Not long ago, he had just been promoted to a Half-Step Inner Force Grandmaster.
Elder Lin's voice was deep, his old eyes holding a hint of anger, "Mr. Chen, I hope you will allow this old man to fight. A while ago, Hall Master Mu personally crippled my personal disciple, preventing him from ever cultivating again. This matter should be settled."
Chen Xuan saw the determination and anger in Elder Lin's eyes.
It seemed the situation at the time was tragic, causing great distress to Elder Lin.
Initially, Elder Lin lacked the ability to change the outcome, but now that he had the ability, he was prepared to seek justice.
Chen Xuan was silent for a moment, then nodded, "I trouble you, Elder Lin."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen!"
Elder Lin looked at Chen Xuan gratefully, then stepped forward and said to Mu Haifeng, "Hall Master Mu, your opponent is me!"
Mu Haifeng burst into laughter and scoffed, "Elder Lin, why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror? Last time, I crippled your personal disciple right in front of you, and you didn't dare to say a word. Now you're going to seek death?"
"Now, try me again!" Elder Lin's face was so dark it was almost dripping.
Mu Haifeng's face was full of a sinister grin, "Elder Lin, if these old bones of yours were ten years younger, you might have a chance to fight me. But now, you're just an old cripple. You can't even defeat my disciple! What are you pretending for!"
He was also somewhat excited. If Chen Xuan dared to send Elder Lin, Xuanji Hall likely had no real strength.
Perhaps Xuanji Hall was wary of the people behind him and could only send Elder Lin.
"You are courting death!" Elder Lin's cloudy eyes grew colder.
Clearly, Mu Haifeng's words had angered Elder Lin.
Chen Xuan watched Mu Haifeng's behavior and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
To anger an Inner Force Grandmaster was tantamount to seeking death.
"Elder Lin, since you are seeking death, do not blame me for being impolite. Rest assured, I happen to have a piece of feng shui land that can serve as your burial ground. I guarantee that if you are buried there, your descendants will prosper." Mu Haifeng laughed heartily.
With that, Mu Haifeng's face hardened, and he threw a punch, like a cannonball, straight towards Elder Lin's forehead.
The terrifying inner force blew Elder Lin's gray and white hair into disarray, causing the tables and chairs in the room to shake slightly.
Crack!
A teacup couldn't withstand it and shattered.
This punch fully displayed Mu Haifeng's strength as a Half-Step Inner Force Grandmaster!
Everyone watching gasped.
"It's a Half-Step Inner Force Grandmaster!"
"Damn!"
"Jiangzhou's second Half-Step Inner Force Grandmaster! The first was Elder Lin, and now there's a second one!"
"It's over. If it were before, Elder Lin might have had a chance, but now he's probably finished!"
Hearing the surrounding voices, Mu Haifeng's lips curved into a proud smile as he looked at Elder Lin, who was close at hand.
At this moment, Elder Lin was like an aged, frail old man in a storm, with no support.
"Elder Lin, I'm sending you to hell, don't blame me. Blame the person you chose to stand with!" Mu Haifeng's eyes flashed with cold light.
"Noisy!"
Elder Lin, with a blank expression, performed a simple action: he slapped Mu Haifeng across the face.
Slap!
A crisp slap sound rang out like a thunderclap.